Being quizzed by chemist's assistant in Boots.

Callistemon21

I've never understood why the podiatrist needs to know my medical details and any medication I'm on.

I believe some conditions actually affect your feet - I know diabetes is one of them, and maybe heart problems, or even certain medications.

My OH is a type 2 diabetic and the podiatrist always looks carefully at his feet, and tests for loss of sensation, etc.

I've never understood why the podiatrist needs to know my medical details and any medication I'm on.

The dentist, possibly, if they are going to carry out any intrusive procedures but all the podiatrist does is very occasionally look at my feet and order new insoles.
Well yes. And a Pilates teacher? Fair enough to ask about arthritis or broken bones, but why they need a full medical history is beyond me. I guess a lot of it will be compensation culture - if you have anything wrong and they take you on you could sue. I don’t know whether they turn people away or if participants just lie. Everyone in the class can’t have had perfect health, given the average age at the one I was at.

I would much prefer to sign something that pointed out the risks and let people take responsibility for themselves. We can use common sense and stop when it hurts, or ask whether to push ourselves for our own good.

My GP surgery recently brought in a pharmacist to review everyone’s medication. I got a phone call and he went through my list and checked for contraindications etc. I wasn’t asked in advance whether I minded or not. As it was, it was helpful, but it felt like yet another person had access to what used to be private information without my consent.

It wasn’t a pharmacist, but I still wince at the memory of my intensely private mother having a doctor’s receptionist yell across the waiting room, ‘Is it about your waterworks, dear?’ 😱
I wasn’t there - she told me later, and I’m afraid she was too shy and non-confrontational to complain.

I once had a dr’s receptionist who I knew vaguely - she was a very loud, bossy type - ask me at full volume, ‘What’s it about?’

I just said, ‘I’ll discuss that with the doctor, thank you.’

The podiatrist needs to know if you are diabetic, as diabetics can get gangrene in their toes from small wounds.

Answer to the doctor's receptiionis

"That is too embarrassing to describe to you". You need say no more.
'Embarrassing' covers genito-urinary, perianal, skin, deformity, mental, gastro-enteric, and even certain infectious diseases.

I suppose the receptionist is savvy enough to get the GP to visit you pronto , or call 999 ,if you are breathless, or have any other acute symptom of allergy, or heart trouble.

Caleo

The podiatrist needs to know if you are diabetic, as diabetics can get gangrene in their toes from small wounds.

Yes, true.

Dickens

Callistemon21

I've never understood why the podiatrist needs to know my medical details and any medication I'm on.

I believe some conditions actually affect your feet - I know diabetes is one of them, and maybe heart problems, or even certain medications.

My OH is a type 2 diabetic and the podiatrist always looks carefully at his feet, and tests for loss of sensation, etc.

The last time I saw a podiatrist, she did a Doppler scan to test the blood flow in my feet. Foot infections can be especially dangerous for diabetics, which is why she advised me not to use scissors on my toe nails. The dangers are that diabetics often can't feel foot injuries and sometimes take longer to heal from even minor injuries, which can then become infected.

I suppose it depends why someone sees the podiatrist.

They've never actually really looked at my feet.

This is normal, just basic triage as, some conditions may need other services (such as A&E)
The pharmacists won't always have time to speak to everyone who walks through the door so it helps to have someone establish basic information on their behalf to cut down the time required to investigate conditions and propose an appropriate treatment. A pharmacist does not need to be spending 30 mins asking questions about (often minor) problem when there's more pressing things they need to be dealing with. They often now do the same in A&E and have receptionists put basic details into the system that the medical staff can access.

Triage is carried out by qualified nurses in A &E.

The receptionist takes no more details than absolutely necessary.

My daughter, a doctor, told me that GP receptionists do regular training. If they yell across the room to the patient, the training about confidentiality has obviously missed it’s target. Anyway they do training so they can at least recognise if a situation is urgent. If a receptionist fails to maintain the patient’s confidentiality by yelling across the room, it would be wise to make a complaint to the Practice Manager because that receptionist needs a reminder at least, and possibly retraining.

@Callistemon21 the full triage is done by a nurse but the initial triage details are investigated as you arrive by the receptionist - what has happened, where is the injury etc. I did the job myself for 9 years

In A&E, I suspect that most people would agree that giving personal information for the purposes of triage is ok. But that is very different from a visit to a GP in a non-emergency situation, probably in one's home town in a waiting room where there are people who know who you are. The GP has your medical information, and being asked for details about the reason for your visit is intrusive.

Many receptionists, particularly in hospitals, don't respect the need for privacy that some people have. They are behind glass (probably for their own safety) and you have to speak fairly loudly to give your name, DOB and first line of your address, as well as which clinic your appointment is in. Some of them even read it out for you to check, so 'Mrs D Dog, 123 High Street, Hometown, DOB 1/1/1910 to see Dr Smith about your haemorrhoids??

There may be reasons for this, but as I said above, it doesn't mean that we have to like it. I used to be confident that anything I told my GP would be confidential, but now there are so many paramedical roles, as well as numerous admin staff with access to records that I am not, and it is all but impossible to have anything removed - even if it is inaccurate the best you can hope for is to get a not attached to that effect.

Now that the dentist, the podiatrist, the pilates teacher and goodness knows who else know all sorts of details about their clients, there really is no such thing as doctor-patient confidentiality any more.

And if any receptionist shouted all that information across the room, then there would be very good reason to make a very vociferous complaint to the Practice Manager.

Our Practice has a self check in system, you simply tap in date of birth and male/female and it asks if you are seeing Dr Soandso, or Nurse Soandso, and at this time, and if you are Mrs Maddy One and you tap yes, and go and sit down. Quick, easy, private.

Mamasperspective

@Callistemon21 the full triage is done by a nurse but the initial triage details are investigated as you arrive by the receptionist - what has happened, where is the injury etc. I did the job myself for 9 years

Well, not here.

Took name, address, GP surgery etc, that's all.

maddyone

And if any receptionist shouted all that information across the room, then there would be very good reason to make a very vociferous complaint to the Practice Manager.

Our Practice has a self check in system, you simply tap in date of birth and male/female and it asks if you are seeing Dr Soandso, or Nurse Soandso, and at this time, and if you are Mrs Maddy One and you tap yes, and go and sit down. Quick, easy, private.

It's getting past the receptionist to get a GP appointment here that is the problem.
They want to know everything and will argue about whether you need an appointment or not.

In fact, the turnover of receptionists is so rapid, we're lucky to get the same one twice.

To be fair, I was talking about hospital receptionists giving out that information. The GP ones do it over the phone, and can be overheard, but it's less likely to be connected to an individual.

Oh apologies, I thought you were talking about GPs.
I confess, that has never happened at any hospital appointments I’ve been to either. I’ve just signed in at the reception area. I haven’t self presented at A&E for so many years I can’t remember.

I haven’t been to A&E since the children grew up, but lately I’ve had a few outpatient appointments. There is a central reception where people are funnelled to the relevant clinics, and it is just as I describe. Either you have to give your details loudly enough to be heard by someone behind a screen or they read it from your notes. They need to make sure that everyone sees the right doctor, but there has to be a better way of doing it.

maddyone

And if any receptionist shouted all that information across the room, then there would be very good reason to make a very vociferous complaint to the Practice Manager.

Our Practice has a self check in system, you simply tap in date of birth and male/female and it asks if you are seeing Dr Soandso, or Nurse Soandso, and at this time, and if you are Mrs Maddy One and you tap yes, and go and sit down. Quick, easy, private.

Our surgery has this too, the local hospital has it in some areas.

I don’t think that’s ever happened to me Doodledog. As I’ve been struggling with this narrowed spinal problem for a while now, it has necessitated a few visits to medics, but I’ve only ever had to inform Reception that I’ve arrived, and then I’m told where to wait, and usually the medic appears and calls my name and asks me to follow him/her.

I have frequent hospital appointments. Receptionists do not shout out my personal details. The only thing you are asked to confirm is your D.O.B and GP and it is done discretely..
I pre-empt the question by saying that my details have not changed since my last medical appointment. That is sufficient, because all my history is accessible and can be accessed whatever clinic I am attending.

I think I’ve had to confirm my name, date of birth, and address too Marydoll.

I’ve tried handing them my appointment letter which has all that information on it, but they seem to need you to say it out loud. It doesn’t always matter - I mean I can’t remember the details of anyone I’ve seen in a queue - but if someone is behind you and knows you even vaguely they will hear your age, your address and which clinic you are attending. Again, people have different levels of privacy needs, but say, a teacher going to a psychiatrist or a GUM clinic might not appreciate that information being known, and may well prefer her age and address to stay private, too.

The receptionists don’t shout it all out with a loudhailer - it’s the setup that makes privacy difficult.

Some people are beyond rude. Many years ago while working as a receptionist a manager said he was not to be disturbed as he was in a meeting. When I told a customer he wasn’t available as he was in a meeting she responded with “I hope you get cancer and die”. Such a very wicked person. 😡